Leeds legend Peter Lorimer is convinced David O'Leary's side will reach this season's Champions League final.

Lorimer tasted the bitterness of defeat 26 years ago in Paris as Don Revie's team were beaten 2-0 by the Germans in what was a highly-controversial clash in Paris. Now Leeds face their most important match since that fateful night when they take on Valencia in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Elland Road.

"Having played Barcelona and Milan in the first group, and then Lazio and Real Madrid in the second group, I can't believe they've got this far," said a surprised Lorimer. "It's not going to be the prettiest of semi-finals, but I do fancy us. I really feel we've a great chance of getting to the final - and we will play Real Madrid."

He continued: "After 20 minutes of the first game in Barcelona when they tore us apart, I thought "this tournament is going to be a disaster". But fair play to all the players who have buckled down and managed to get some great results.

"I think the hard work has been done. This Leeds team have proven everybody wrong, and although I feel the most entertaining football nowadays is played in Spain, this is a game Leeds will win.

"Valencia are a hard-working side, who play on the break and with plenty of patience. They grind out results, similar to teams in the Premiership, but they don't have the flair of Barcelona and Real Madrid."

O'Leary's boys have so far played with no fear, which has been the key to their incredible success, although there were signs nerves were creeping in during the last game against Deportivo La Coruna.

Leading 3-0 from the first leg of the quarter final at Elland Road, United were forced to stage a backs-to-the-wall performance in La Coruna, losing 2-0 to scrape through 3-2 on aggregate.

Former Scotland international Lorimer, who remarkably only won 22 caps for his country, feels Leeds should play with the same "all-or-nothing" panache and verve they have so far displayed during the competition.

"There will be more nerves now," added Lorimer. "The semi-final is always the worst game to play in.

"If you get to a cup final then you are at least there. It's a big day for everybody associated with the club, a special day.

"But if you do fail in the semi, then to have come so near is very disappointing.

"It will be totally deflating if they don't reach the final now because they have really geed themselves up for it and there's no reason why they can't get there.

"To do so they just have to play the way they have been doing. I think they can afford to play that way because I feel Leeds will be the team which does all the attacking, the one who goes for it.

"I think Valencia will play their normal game. There will be nothing silly, no real frills. They will just grind away and hope they get a goal against us.

"But I think we will have the most of the play and dictate, even over in Valencia.

"Sometimes when you are the underdog, as Leeds are again and as we've seen in cup competitions on a regular basis, you go out with nothing to lose and give it a go.

"Because of that they have played some terrific football, like against Anderlecht when they won 4-1 and against Lazio when they won 1-0 - and I'm sure they can do so again against Valencia."